diff --git a/cms/settings.py b/cms/settings.py
index 7945215..21983c4 100644
--- a/cms/settings.py
+++ b/cms/settings.py
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ HLS_DIR = os.path.join(MEDIA_ROOT, "hls/")
 
 FFMPEG_COMMAND = "ffmpeg"  # this is the path
 FFPROBE_COMMAND = "ffprobe"  # this is the path
+FFMPEG_THREADS = 0  # default - use optimal number of threads
 MP4HLS = "mp4hls"
 
 MASK_IPS_FOR_ACTIONS = True
diff --git a/files/helpers.py b/files/helpers.py
index 948c525..7706b0c 100644
--- a/files/helpers.py
+++ b/files/helpers.py
@@ -554,6 +554,8 @@ def get_base_ffmpeg_command(
 
     base_cmd = [
         settings.FFMPEG_COMMAND,
+        "-threads",
+        str(settings.FFMPEG_THREADS),
         "-y",
         "-i",
         input_file,
diff --git a/files/models.py b/files/models.py
index 1d539cc..f6785e9 100644
--- a/files/models.py
+++ b/files/models.py
@@ -1482,6 +1482,8 @@ def encoding_file_save(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
                             ff.write("file {}\n".format(f))
                     cmd = [
                         settings.FFMPEG_COMMAND,
+                        "-threads",
+                        str(settings.FFMPEG_THREADS),
                         "-y",
                         "-f",
                         "concat",
diff --git a/files/tasks.py b/files/tasks.py
index aee5b67..c3ce802 100644
--- a/files/tasks.py
+++ b/files/tasks.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ def chunkize_media(self, friendly_token, profiles, force=True):
     chunks_file_name += ".mkv"
     cmd = [
         settings.FFMPEG_COMMAND,
+        "-threads",
+        str(settings.FFMPEG_THREADS),
         "-y",
         "-i",
         media.media_file.path,